Fame, Fortune, and Friendship

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, Harry is faced with the normal challenges of adolescence like going to a new school, trying to make friends, and juggling all of his classes. However, Harry faces an additional challenge at Hogwarts: he's wizard world famous. Even from the time he and Hagrid collect his school supplies in Diagon Alley, people are raving about him and praising him for something he has no memory of doing. He has very few memories about how he received his famous scar, yet everyone in the wizarding world makes it seem like he single-handedly defeated He Who Shall Not Be Named.

Once he gets to Hogwarts, his peers are all over him trying to make friends with the famous young man. Either that or they avoid him like the plague. Draco even tries to pry him away from Ron, saying that he should be careful about the types of friends he makes since it could ruin his reputation. Everyone seems to have an opinion about who Harry befriends and how it will impact his status as a famous wizard, but Harry just wants to have true friends that don't care about his fame. Some might consider Ron to be a little starstruck when he first meets Harry on the train, but he quickly gets over his nervousness and realizes that Harry is just like any other normal kid.

Some students also expect Harry to be naturally good at everything the first years are taught. Even a professor or two try to knock him down a peg, assuming he knows more than he really does. Snape quizzes him about potion ingredients just to embarrass him. This goes to show that with the exception of a few people at Hogwarts like Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid, everyone seems to forget that Harry is just a kid. He's new to this world and just trying to adapt, but people have such high expectations of him that he can scarcely afford to focus on his own well-being. Dumbledore his perhaps the best example of someone who depends on Harry too much, especially in the later books. Though Dumbledore didn't outright expect Harry to be the one to defeat Voldemort, he certainly prompted him to protect it by giving him the tools and technology to explore the castle at night.

Ultimately, though Harry Potter is just a child, he certainly isn't treated by one. People expect him to have everything figured out, but he really just wants to make friends and truly enjoy his life for the first time. He has the poor fortune to find bad luck around every corner at Hogwarts, but the true friends he makes always help him through it.

Harry and Voldemort

Harry and Voldemort

Harry and Voldemort are fighting on opposite sides of the battle for good and evil in the Wizarding World. Despite Harry and Voldemort’s differences in allegiances, they have a lot in common with one another.  However, they also have important differences that set them apart, making Harry a hero and Voldemort a villain. Rowling highlights these similarities and difference that show Harry and Voldemort as opposite sides of the same coin.

Both Harry and Voldemort are famous for being powerful wizards. Voldemort is a powerful dark wizard whose power is feared by wizards across the Wizarding World.  Harry’s power is more mysterious since no one knows exactly how he survived and weakened Voldemort as a baby, but whatever power he had is greatly admired and celebrated by other wizards.  Just the mention of Harry or Voldemort’s name seems to have power to it.  Voldemort is so feared by the other wizards that most of them refer to him as You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  Dumbledore comments of the absurdity of not using his true name, “All this You-Know-Who nonsense- foe eleven years I have been trying to persuade people to call him by his proper name: Voldemort” (11).  This statement is enough to make Professor McGonagall flinch.  Even though avoiding using Voldemort’s name might seem silly or odd, just the mention of his name instills fear in the hearts of many wizards.  Harry’s name similarly carries a lot of weight and emotion for most wizards.  Harry is the “chosen one,” or “the boy who lived.” When Harry comes into the Leaky Cauldron he is greeted with shock, awe, and admiration from the wizards there. The bar tender says, “Good Lord,…is this- can it be-?” followed by, “Bless my soul… Harry Potter… what an honor” (69). The bar tender can not believe it is really Harry Potter.  He rushed up to meet him and shake his hand with tears in his eyes.  Every wizard is so grateful to Harry, that just seeing him, or even hearing his name gives them a sense of happiness and appreciation.

Harry and Voldemort also share similar wands. A wizard’s wand is a unique part of the wizard and no two are the same, however Mr. Ollivander is surprised by the similarity between Harry and Voldemort’s wands. He says, “It just so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather- just one other.  It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother- gave you that scar” (85).  Once again Harry and Voldemort become more connected as the story progresses.  Mr. Ollivander leaves Harry with a chilling thought, “I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter… After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things- terrible, yes, but great” (85).  This is an important note because is explains that people can be forces of greatness both for good and evil.  Harry has the potential to be a great wizard by following in Voldemort’s footsteps and becoming a dark wizard, or by standing up for what is right and becoming a powerful force for good in the Wizarding World.

The similarities and differences between Harry and Voldemort are an important part of the novel.  Rowling shows us that there are two sides to every conflict, and the power to do great good or great evil is inside each of us.   

Good Versus Evil at Hogwarts

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, I think the story is told for readers to be biased against Slytherin and for Gryffindor. During Harry's first experiences in the Wizarding World, buying new supplies for school, he meets Draco Malfoy, who already seems entitled and rude. Malfoy claims he knows he will be in Slytherin since all of his family were, automatically presenting the qualities of that House as those of Malfoy's. Even Hagrid, Harry's mentor, tells him that "there's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one" (Rowling 80). This clearly displays the evilness of the House, as the darkest wizard, who tried to kill Harry, had been in it. Though there are people who were in Slytherin that did not become evil, the story seems to forget to mention anyone that came out good. Eventually, Harry makes it to the school, and on his first day, makes eye contact with Snape, the Head of Slytherin House, and a "sharp, hot pain shot across the scar on Harry's forehead (Rowling 126). The scar was created by Voldemort, showing some connection between the darkest wizard and the head of the House. There is also evilness presented when Harry becomes the Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. During his first match against Slytherin, his broom becomes possessed and he dangles on for life, being thrown around in the air. In the stands, Hagrid can only say that "can't nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic," showing that something evil was trying to hurt Harry, and they suspect Snape, as he has always shown a negative bias towards Harry.
As for Gryffindor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all get into this House, and present the characteristics of bravery, wholeheartedness, and dedication for defending Hogwarts against any evilness. They stand up against Malfoy, who they quickly realize is out to bully them, and defend their friends against his harsh criticisms. While at this point Malfoy is only a powerless enemy, there are more evil forces that these Gryffindors must defeat. They discover that Snape is plotting to steal the sorcerer's stone, which they know is very powerful, and Hogwarts is doing everything to keep it hidden away, by placing it under Fluffy the guard dog. However, when they finally make it through the maze of spells to get to the stone, they discover Professor Quirrell. Though a trusted advisor, he reveals it was he who was trying to kill Harry during the Quidditch match, and Snape was actually trying to save him. Quirrell has been carrying around Voldemort all this time, trying to save him using the stone, while also trying to complete the killing of Harry, which Voldemort had failed to do the first time.
Thus, while there is some good from Slytherin as presented in Snape, the House as a whole has an evil stereotype, shown by Malfoy and Voldemort, and Hogwarts holds evil secrets as displayed in Professor Quirrel himself. Without reading the rest of the books of the series, Slytherin is portrayed as a house of evils while Gryffindor is depicted as a house of good.

Fate in Harry Potter

              Harry’s interaction with the Sorting Hat is pivotal because it tests Harry’s power over his own fate. He dreads putting on the hat because he thinks it might assign him to Slytherin: “Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin” (Rowling 121). He does not want to be associated with unlikable students like Draco Malfoy, who was assigned to Slytherin. When it is Harry’s turn to get sorted, he is nervous because he assumes that the hat has all the power and that its word is final. He does not think he has a say in determining his own future at Hogwarts. That is why he is surprised when he puts the hat on and it actually cooperates in a negotiation with Harry. “‘Not Slytherin, eh?’ said the small voice. ‘Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it’s all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that – no? Well, if you’re sure – better be GRYFFINDOR!’” (Rowling 121). This negotiation shows that, although much of Harry’s future and fate are already decided for him, he still has a good amount of control over what he chooses to make of his life as a wizard.

              The Sorting Hat tempts Harry with the promise of guaranteed greatness if he were to be in Slytherin, but Harry refuses and instead sets his life on the path towards fulfilling a prophecy of greatness as a Gryffindor. The hat recognizes Harry’s courage, bright mind, innate talent, and his “thirst to prove [himself]” (Rowling 121). This suggests that Harry still retains the power to choose whether to capitalize on his full potential or not. In this way he is free to make his own choices and have a say in his own fate. Harry’s interaction with the Sorting Hat demonstrates a choice between good and evil as well. The hat lets Harry express his preference for the nobler Gryffindor house over the dark and suspicious Slytherin house, which directly reflects Harry’s true character as an admirable, honorable young man. He wishes to surround himself with likeminded friends and classmates who will bring out the best in him. Even though Harry’s fate may have been handed to him from the very beginning, what he chooses to do with his life will be his own independent achievement.

Oh, It's Just a Kid's Book

The Harry Potter series is a kid’s series. There’s nothing arguable about that- there’s good versus evil, fantastical wizarding battles, and a villain that always loses. However, people keep going back to the story- parents having their kids read it, older siblings passing it on to younger, or simply adults returning to books that reminded them of their childhood. The universality of Harry Potter, and why people keep coming back to it, comes from the relationships of the characters. People can’t relate to being able to cast spells or brewing potions that can “even stopper death,” but they can relate to feeling alone and awkward and wishing for a friend (Rowling 137). Harry, Ron, and Hermione need each other- without the others present, they couldn’t achieve the things they do, just as we need those around us to help us better ourselves.

Whenever Harry, Ron, and Hermione decide to pursue the Sorcerer’s Stone, all three of their skills are necessary to fulfill the task. After falling into the Devil’s Snare, Hermione’s the first to realize “what [it] is” and that the plant likes “the dark and the damp,” but Harry devises the idea to “light a fire” (Rowling 277,278).  However, without Ron’s call to sense- “ARE YOU A WITCH OR NOT?”- Hermione wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to use her wand to light a fire to help them escape the potentially life-threatening plant (Rowling 278). From the key room utilizing Harry’s “knack for spotting things other people didn’t,” to the chess board requiring that Ron sacrifice himself “to be taken,” to Hermione’s confidence that she and Harry had “everything [they] need[ed]” to solve the potions riddle- each of them play an integral role in getting Harry through to help protect the stone (Rowling 280, 283, 286). However, their skills and talents working together isn’t the central message in this section of the story. When Ron is willing to sacrifice himself to allow Harry and Hermione to move on, the audience isn’t commending his strategic chess ability- they’re admiring his willingness to protect his friends. When Hermione and Harry have to separate as Harry goes to fight for the stone, Rowling doesn’t intend for her audience to focus on Hermione’s logical prowess- the emphasis lies not only in saving the day but also on “… more important things – friendship and bravery” (Rowling 287).

The wizarding knowledge and books and spells aren’t the most important part of Harry Potter- Hermione says it directly: there are more important things. Both in the series and in real life, the things that matter most to us don’t lie in the things we know or can recite- it’s what we can feel and in the connections we build. Although these connections in Harry Potter occur in a world with three headed dogs and men with two faces and mirrors that show your truest desire, the universality of the relationships creates a timeless story that people have passed down, and will pass down, for generations to come.

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy

Throughout Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter have an interesting dynamic to their relationship. When Draco initially invites Harry to be his friend, hoping to align himself with a famous, powerful wizard, Harry declines, choosing instead to stick by Ron Weasley, who Malfoy in every way perceives as being below him. Harry adds insult to injury by responding to Draco’s cool “You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you out there,” with an equally chilling “I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks” (108-09). This sets in motion a rivalry that lasts throughout the remaining novels in the series, and the reader sees how Draco and Harry’s paths continue to diverge until they eventually serve as pawns for either side of the second wizarding war in Deathly Hallows.

            This first meeting and the entirety of Malfoy and Potter’s interactions in The Sorcerer’s Stone, however, are indicative of a more playground rivalry than one based on ideological warlike differences. Their fight on the quidditch pitch, for example, is the result of very boyish, teasing behavior, with Malfoy stealing Neville’s Remembrall and playing a glorified game of Keep Away from Harry. After Harry bests him and catches the Remembrall before it hits the ground, Malfoy is embarrassed and determined to prove his ability over Harry’s, telling him “I’d take you on anytime on my own” before challenging him to a duel that night (149).

            I think most of the conflict between Harry and Malfoy in the first novel is built on Malfoy’s jealousy of Harry and his friends. A coward who is never without his cronies, Malfoy is stunned that Harry declines his invitation of friendship so curtly, having been brought up to believe he and his family were superior to families like the Weasleys. In an effort to save face, Malfoy tries at every turn to embarrass Harry, who has no prior knowledge of his magical ability but still manages to defeat Draco in his challenges. This is even more humiliating for Malfoy, who again was raised to believe he was the greatest in all things, especially flying. Their rivalry is solidified in Harry’s victories, and their dynamic in this book sets the tone for their continued relationship for the rest of the series.

Adults in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

As we discussed in class, the first book of the Harry Potter series resembles a children’s book much more than some of the later books. When I read the book for the first time as a sixth grader, I didn’t notice anything strange about the way the adults acted in this novel. However, as an adult now, I find the behavior of Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and Dumbledore much more alarming. 

At first the adults at Hogwarts seem strict but sensible. They are hard on the students, but they reinforce their interests in the student’s safety and learning (with the exception of Snape who inexplicably hates Harry from the moment he walks into Hogwarts).  This changes when Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Malfoy are caught sneaking through Hogwarts late at night by Professor McGonagall. She gives them each a detention, which seems reasonable until they are called in to serve it. Their detention is not something simple like “coping lines or something,”  but rather they are sent into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid and his dog to look for an injured unicorn (311). When asked about what might have hurt it, Hagrid says, “It’s not easy ter catch a unicorn, they’re powerful magic creatures. I never knew one ter be hurt before” (313). It’s startling to me now that both McGonagall and Hagrid agreed that a good punishment for students being out of their dorms at night was to send them into a forest that is known to be dangerous and is normally off-limits to students. The unskilled eleven-year-olds are sent into the forest even when the adults know that something more harmful than usual is out there hurting creatures that are powerful and difficult to catch.  

Dumbledore also acts unexpectedly throughout Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which Harry discovers at the end of the novel. Harry and his friends are recovering from their attempt to stop Voldemort from stealing the Sorcerer’s Stone and coming back to power when Dumbledore visits Harry. He tells Harry how he was the one to give Harry the invisibility cloak. When Harry shares this with Ron and Hermione, they speculate that Dumbledore gave it to Harry to enable him to take on Voldemort. Harry says, “I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help…It’s almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could” (576). Enabling a group of eleven-year-olds to take on a horrendous dark wizard who has every desire to kill one of them is rather negligent. While I love the book and many of the adult characters, I find that reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an adult has given me an entirely new perspective on the actions of the adult wizards. 

The House Cup System: Good or Bad?

In Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, the House Cup system creates a negative competitive environment between the houses at Hogwarts, while also promoting good behavior. The negative competitive environment developed from the house system reflects primarily in the hatred between the Gryffindor House and the Slytherin House. In particular, Harry and Malfoy express their hatred between their houses through their constant altercations. When Malfoy takes Neville’s Remembrall during their first flying lesson, Harry mounts his broom and yells at Malfoy, “Give it here…or I’ll knock you off that broom!” (Rowling 148-149). Malfoy’s only motivation to steal Neville’s Remembrall is to make fun of Neville, benefitting himself in no other way besides the humiliation of the Gryffindor House. Additionally, Harry defending Neville and going after Malfoy and threatening to hurt him illustrates how Malfoy’s actions create an aversive competition between the two boys and their respective houses. In a similar way, Malfoy displays his dislike of Harry and the Gryffindor House once more when he challenges Harry to a wizard’s duel (153). However, instead of taking Harry head on, Malfoy uses the duel to attempt to get Harry into trouble by not showing up and “[tipping Filch] off” about where Harry would be (159). Because of the hatred between the two houses and their incentive to win the House Cup, Malfoy goes out of his way to try to get Harry in trouble in an attempt to lose Gryffindor points. Rather than facing Harry and fighting out their differences, Malfoy leverages the House Cup system to compete with Harry through teacher punishment.

              

           Despite the House Cup system creating a negative competitive environment between the Gryffindor and Slytherin Houses, the House Cup system also incentives rule following from each of the respective houses. The House Cup system rewards the house when students display exceptional behavior, and penalizes the house when students misbehave. For example, when Ron and Harry rescue Hermione from the troll in the girls bathroom, Professor McGonagall takes five points off of Gryffindor after Hermione claims, “I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could deal with it on my own” (177-178). However, she rewards Harry and Ron ten points for saving Hermione and “[taking] on a full-grown mountain troll” (178). While Professor McGonagall penalizes Hermione from what she believes to be “foolish” (178) behavior, she rewards Harry and Ron for being loyal to their housemate, Hermione, and performing excellent magic. The point system motivates those in the houses to behave well and follow the rules so they do not penalize their entire house for their own poor behavior. Due to the negative and positive aspects of the House Cup system, students display hatred and a competitive atmosphere between the other houses, while also working to follow the rules and create a positive image for their house.

Two Sides of the Same Coin

From the very first pages of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone we are introduced to antagonistic forces in Harry Potter's life, namely, the Dursleys. Harry's caretakers exhibit extreme strictness on Harry's behavior, at his slightest transgression, or even simply his asking a question, witholding food and confining him to the cupboard under the stairs (25). Harry's cousin, Dudley, as well, is shown to be a malicious force in Harry's life, preventing him from making friends as "nobody liked to disagree with Dudley's gang" and harrasing him at every opportunity (30). When Harry finally leaves 4 Privet Drive, it seems as though he will be free of constant punishment and bullying, until he encounters the characters of Draco Malfoy and Snape.
Just as Vernon Dursley seems to have an inherent and fixed dislike of Harry, Snape immediately shows his displeasure towards him by goading him in class (138). He also mimicks the Dursley method of revoking items from Harry as punishment, as he does when he confiscates Harry's book on quiddich (182). Draco also serves as a parallel to Dudley, as well as Dudley's gang, by having Crabbe and Goyle to reinforce his bullying (109). And just as Dudley manipulates his parents by crying and throwing tantrums, Draco manipulates Snape and Filch in order to cause Harry to get into trouble (23,159).
Draco and Snape are not perfect parallels to the Dursleys, however, both in style and motivation they are set apart. The Dursleys attempt to repress Harry, and are repulsed by his magical talents, and they use simple, yet cruel, methods to cause Harry strife. Malfoy's motivation to dislike Harry is founded on the train when Harry publicly rejects his friendship, and though his hatred is out of proportion, it is somewhat justifiable (109). Snape's motivations in this novel are not yet revealed, yet in later books his rivalry with Harry's father is pointed to as the main cause for his hatred. Both Draco and Snape display not only intelligence, but also magical talent, something alien to the Dursleys, but in malice, they are two sides of the same coin.

Unlikable Characters in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I have read Harry Potter many times. My sister and I used to reread the books yearly, but we often read them more than that. It was far and away my favorite book for most of my life, up until my Junior year of high school (go read Shadow of the Wind if you haven't). However, when rereading it for this class, I was surprised by how much I didn't like the characters at the beginning of the series, and I believe Rowling did this on purpose. Most of the characters, outside of Harry, are meant to be disliked until you get to know them better. While I could deep dive into hundreds of characters, I would like to focus on just Hermione and Neville for the sake of time.
We discussed last class that Hermione is meant to be disliked at the beginning. She comes off as a rude know-it-all with little social experience. She is unpleasant to interact with and I even found myself rooting for her to fail once or twice so she wouldn't be so stuck-up. This is summarized in her line “I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed” (162). Rowling understands this however and spends time developing Hermione into a lovable character and many reader's favorites. Much of this took place with the troll encounter, which both served to show Harry and Ron's heroic side as well as Hermione's kinder side. After this, Hermione is a staple of the gang, as “There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them" (179). She does a 180 and becomes a rule-breaker who is as loyal and brave as any other Gryffindor student.
Neville takes a much longer time to develop, as he isn't a main character, but shares a similar arc to Hermione. Our first introduction to Neville portray him as a helpless and scared boy who continuously loses his toad. He is even more untalented than Ron and is ridiculed by his enemies and friends alike, with Ron even saying "Neville will play Quidditch for England before Hagrid lets Dumbledore down" (192). By the end of the novel however, Neville is close friends with the main three character's and his bravery is the reason (arguably) that Gryffindor wins the house cup as Dumbledore states that "“There are all kinds of courage. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends" (306).  Much like Hermione, Neville gets more development in order to make him a lovable character.

Rowling is a master when it comes to developing characters.  Many of my favorite characters from across different media are characters that start out hated, but through greater development become as interesting and loved as the main characters.  Rowling gives her characters these arcs to allow us to understand them from multiple different perspectives.  I do not believe that this choice detracts from the story, but rather adds to her characters' depth.

I would love to here some other examples of this arc.  Some I can think of off the top of my head would include: Snape, Malfoy, Dudley, and Petunia.  There are bound to be more, so hit me with them.

Malfoy and Potter

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, we are first introduced to the character of Harry Potter as he grows up in a normal, muggle household. His relatives, the Durselys, push Harry to the side and make his life difficult, all while spoiling their son Dudley. This is one of the most prominent reasons that Harry is so humble; he has no knowledge of what he truly is and he is treated as a punching bag for his relatives. Despite the fact that he is one of the most famous wizards in all of the wizarding world, he rarely lets this fame get to his head. 

The foil to Harry's character is Draco Malfoy. Draco comes from a well-known wizard family from the Slytherin House. He has joyfully experienced the opportunities that growing up in a wizard family brings about, often bragging about his experience with flying and explaining how talented of a Quidditch player he is. 

It is interesting to note the fact that Harry and Draco are connected in some ways. While being sorted, Harry begs to not be in Slytherin, however, the storing hat sees that Slytherin could be a good for him. Also, essentially before the sorting hat hits Draco's head, he is announced to be in Slytherin. Another interesting thing to analyze is the relationship that Harry has with his family in growing up compared to the relationship Draco has with his family in growing up. It was mentioned in class that it would be interesting to see how Harry's character would have changed had he grown up in a family where the knowledge and use of magic was the norm. Would Harry be less humble? Would his character shift to mirror Draco's character? Additionally, how would Draco change if he was in Harry's position growing up? Would be become more humble? Many people during discussion thought that Harry would be less humble, but would his parents, given that they were never killed, instill a sense of humility in him? Or would they allow Harry to bask in all the glory that comes with growing up in a famous wizarding family?

Morality & Modesty in Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone emphasizes the importance of modesty throughout the book, as seen through Harry Potter’s character as he learns how to handle his newfound fame and fortune that awaits him in the wizarding world.

At the beginning of the novel, Harry Potter knew nothing about his magical abilities, or the fame and fortune he had inherited in the wizarding world through his deceased parents. In fact, he lives with the Dursleys who treat him with little respect, and he even endures sleeping with spiders in “the cupboard under the stairs” (19). Needless to say, Harry Potter comes from rather humble beginnings, and he does not forget his upbringing when he leaves for Hogwarts. When he first arrives at Hogwarts and his name is called for his turn with the sorting hat, “whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall” (121). Everyone at Hogwarts already knows Harry’s name, and yet he does not let it get to his head. He remains humble and continues to work hard and make new friends as he adjusts to a completely new way of life. In fact, he uses his reputation as a way of bettering himself. When Harry awakes in the hospital and learns that “Professor Quirrell did not manage to take [the Stone]” from him, it is because he uses his bravery to uphold his name and give him the confidence to move forward in scary situations (296). His humility stands in stark contrast to other characters in the book, such as Draco Malfoy. Malfoy always seems to “get out of the way just in time,” and uses his family’s name to lift his status and promote his arrogant attitude (149). Malfoy treats others with disrespect, while Harry is rather kind to the other students as soon as he arrives at Hogwarts.

Essentially, Harry’s courage and modesty throughout the first novel allows him to succeed and live up to the fame and fortune that he found in the wizarding world. He acts humbly, which is quite different to other characters in the book, like Draco Malfoy, who value status and success over respect and morals.

Fear in Harry Potter

Fear plays a large role in the Harry Potter series as a whole, especially in the greater context of the wizarding world. Harry uses the Dursley's newfound fear of his magic early on in the book to avoid their mistreatment. Draco Malfoy uses fear and bullying to control his peers. Professor Snape runs his class using fear. Despite these individuals using fear on a regular basis to their advantage, there is also a larger societal fear of Voldemort that affects all of the wizarding world on a greater level. 

Even in Harry's first introduction to the wizarding world when he meets Hagrid begins with someone not willing to say Voldemort's name, instead electing to say "You-Know-Who". Harry, and the reader, soon realize that no one is willing to say Voldemort's name. Hagrid explains this to Harry by saying that “people are still scared” (Rowling 54). Harry realizes that he should not be saying it either when he says it in front of Ron on the train. Ron reacts to Harry saying Voldemort by being “shocked and impressed” (Rowling 100).  Harry is quick to explain that he ”just never knew he shouldn’t” (Rowling 100) and was “not trying to be brave or anything” (Rowling 100). This fear of saying the evilest wizard’s name that persists even after he is believed to be long dead shows just how terrifying and fear-provoking Voldemort was.

Fear also affects the house rivalry that occurs within Hogwarts. While some of the rivalry of the students may be healthy and natural, at least a part of the rivalry is due to the fact that there is a cultural belief that Slytherins are evil. Hagrid explains this to Harry after Harry’s conversation with Draco by saying that “there’s not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn’t in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one” (Rowling 80). The current first-years at Hogwarts all have their prejudices about the Hogwarts houses, particularly Slytherin and Gryffindor, before they even step foot into Hogwarts. Draco knows he will be in Slytherin, Ron wishes for Gryffindor, and Harry knows he does not want to be in the evil house. This fear and prejudice that many hold towards Slytherin manifests as hatred for the Hogwarts students. They grew up hearing about the evil Slytherins who fought alongside Voldemort. Interestingly, it is revealed in a later book that the man who turned on Lily and James Potter was a Gryffindor and that Professor Snape, a Slytherin, is actually working for Dumbledore the entire time.

Rowling uses the fear that the wizarding world possesses as a tool to examine the students at Hogwarts, as well as their interactions, including mistreatment and prejudice, of one another.

The Dursley Effect

It is not hard to hate Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. Their treatment of Harry throughout the first few chapters borders on behavior that that would require Child Protective Services to step in nowadays. Yet, there is something that the Dursley's taught Harry that no one else could: his bravery.

It is no secret that Harry ends up in Gryffindor, a house marked by bravery.  Harry encountered enough tough love and adversity in his first eleven years of life to last him an entire lifetime. But I'm here to tell everyone that the bravery he gained from this horrendous time spent in the Dursley house prepared him for the rest of his life.  It set him up to become the man the wizarding world wanted, the one they needed. Harry's childhood was filled with the Dursley's not trusting him as they wouldn't leave him at home alone because they were afraid they'd "come back and find the house in ruins" (23). In the same breath they discussed leaving him in the car instead of bringing him along for Dudley's birthday, but "that car's new, he's not sitting in it alone" (23). Harry never did anything to deserve this treatment, but received it anyway on a daily basis. Lucky for him, he is the son of one of the greatest witches and wizards the world had ever known, so his patience and persistence was second to none. From all of this came bravery.  Maybe not obvious bravery like many may imagine such as fighting to the death or sacrificing yourself for another, but the kind of bravery that never gives up. The type of bravery that marches on through the roughest of times, not complaining once.

The tough love that Harry grew up with seemed awful at the time, but every single unfortunate circumstance just better prepared him for the future. Even at school, Harry was ostracized because "Dudley's gang hated that odd Harry Potter in his baggy old clothes and broken glasses" (30).  It was not enough for him to have a poor home life, he also had a poor life at school.  Yet, every single day Harry woke up and went about his business with the most professional of attitudes. I truly believe that for all the hate the Dursley's get, they deserve a little bit of recognition.  Not because they were good parents to Harry, they were absolutely dreadful.  However they were so bad to Harry that he grew up developing essential life skills.  Skills that the coddled Dudley did not posses in the slightest.

In summary, the Dursley effect is not the culmination of fortunate events for Harry, but the culmination of terrible ones.  He was treated like trash, lied to, and bullied by his own 'family' for almost eleven whole years.  Thankfully, the Dursley's only marked the beginning of Harry's magical journey as Hagrid would soon bring him to his new home.

Magic for All

               The Harry Potter series has to be one of the most well-known young adult fiction series of our generation.  It has endured for twenty-one years and if nothing else has only increased in popularity as times goes on.  People take quizzes for which house they would be in, buy their own wands, and travel to recreations of the wizarding world at theme parks all because of a single book series.  What is it that makes these books so popular? In my opinion, it is the mixture of open-ended whimsy and real-life lessons that appeals to so many.

               When children read Harry Potter, they cannot help but want to travel to the wizarding world and explore it along with Harry.  The book tells a tale of an average boy who is thrust into this magical society where he is supposedly famous.  He then must learn how to use magic, and he ultimately ends up saving the world.  Most kids and young adults find this appealing since most of us have some desire to make a difference and be appreciated for it. 

               Rowling also leaves her wizarding world fairly open-ended.  This lends itself perfectly to the active imagination of young adults.  Kids spend hours playing make-believe games and the world Harry Potter is a perfect platform for that.  It also gives kids the hope that somewhere out there, the wizarding world is functioning in parallel with our own society.  When Hagrid is explaining the Ministry of Magic to Harry, he says, “Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that there’s still witches an’ wizards up an’ down the country” (65).  This makes it seem entirely plausible that there is magic out there, but its hidden just beyond what can be seen. 

               Beyond the simple fun of the magic and story, Harry Potter has several good lessons to introduce to young adults.  One example of this is the discussion on racism through the prejudice Purebloods have against Mudbloods.  Most kids in the target audience do not quite understand racism or other forms of prejudice.  Harry Potter introduces this hard concept and shows kids how unreasonable it is.  The very first interaction with it is when Draco is talking to Harry in the tailor’s shop.  He says, “I really don’t think they should let the other sort in, do you? They’re just not the same…” (78).  Harry has no knowledge of the wizarding world and already feels that this is unfair.  Draco does not seem to have any real basis for his prejudice other than Mudbloods are just a bit different.  Once younger readers understand the situation in the book, they can use it as a framework to understand real-life racism. 

               Overall, the Harry Potter series has something for everyone.  It has likable characters, magic, and wonder for younger audiences, and it has deeper concepts and lessons for older audiences.  I think it will more than likely continue to be popular for many years to come. 

The Friendship Between Harry, Ron, and Hermione

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger are the best of friends in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. However, they are not friends from the beginning of the book. In fact, the three cannot stand each other in the first half of the novel: “‘It’s no wonder no one can stand her,’ [Ron] said to Harry as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor, ‘she’s a nightmare, honestly’” (p. 172). But when a troll enters Hogwarts, Harry and Ron go to find Hermione so she doesn’t get hurt, given that it’s partially their fault that she doesn’t know about it: “Harry suddenly grabbed Ron’s arm. ‘I’ve just thought — Hermione...doesn’t know about the troll’” (p. 173). And after they’ve saved her from the troll and she takes the fall for it when the professors find them, their friendship is solidified to the point of being unbreakable: “But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them” (p. 179).

Each of the three get something different from the friendship. Harry and Ron’s initial friendship gives them both something they need. Harry knows nothing about the wizarding world or magic, whereas Ron has grown up in a wizarding family. He is therefore able to teach Harry about much of the conventions that many of the purebloods and even some of the half-bloods know. For example, when Malfoy challenges Harry to a wizard’s duel, Ron immediately steps up to help him out: “‘I’d take you on anytime on my own,’ said Malfoy. “Tonight, if you want. Wizard’s duel. Wands only — no contact. What’s the matter? Never heard of a wizard’s duel before, I suppose?’ ‘Of course he has,” said Ron, wheeling around. ‘I’m his second, who’s yours’ (p. 153)? On the other hand, Ron is able to outgrow the shadow of his brothers because his best friend is famous. For Hermione, being friends with the boys helps her learn humility and bravery: “Harry headed straight back to the Gryffindor common room, where he found Ron and Hermione playing chess. Chess was the only thing Hermione ever lost at, something Harry and Ron thought was very good for her” (p. 217). The boys, on the other hand, do better in their classes with Hermione’s help: “Hermione was checking Harry and Ron’s Charms homework for them. She would never let them copy (‘How will you learn?’), but by asking her to read it through, they got the right answers anyway” (p. 182). And in the end, having his friends helps Harry face Quirrel and Voldemort knowing that he is not alone. So the friendship between Harry, Ron, and Hermione is a mutually beneficial and very important friendship.

When Rules Can Be Broken

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling largely showcases the themes of good versus evil and right versus wrong. Several times throughout the novel however, doing the right thing comes with the consequence of going against authority and breaking the rules. In order to do the right and just action, Harry, Ron, and Hermione often have to break the rules of Hogwarts. There are instances though when breaking the rules gets Harry and company into trouble, creating a balance of respecting authority and knowing when to go against it.

One example of Harry going against authority is when he uses his broomstick to fly and retrieve Neville’s Remembrall that Malfoy was going to hide up in a tree. Madam Hooch explicitly told the students, “leave those brooms where they are or you’ll be out of Hogwarts before you can say ‘Quidditch’” (pg. 147). Although Madam Hooch was clear in her warning, Harry went against her command and flew with his broomstick in order to stick up for his friend Neville and return his belonging. Harry was caught defying instructions by professor McGonagall, but instead of being punished he was rewarded by being assigned the role of seeker on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. 

On the other hand, there are a few instances in which Harry and friends broke the rules but were severely punished for doing so. One example is when Mr. Filch catches Harry and Hermione wandering the castle late at night after they had gotten rid of Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon. Filch finds the pair and takes them to Professor McGonagall, who gives them detention and says that “fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor” (pg. 243). Even though helping Hagrid get rid of his dragon was ultimately the right thing to do, it wasn’t Harry and Hermione’s business to get involved in and they end up getting punished because of it. 

J.K. Rowling emphasizes that there should be a balance between maintaining authority and rebelling against it when necessary through the actions of Dumbledore. Dumbledore is the one who gives Harry his father’s invisibility cloak with a note saying to “use it well” (pg. 202). Throughout the novel, it is the cloak that allows Harry to so often and so easily break the rules and avoid being punished. Dumbledore knew that Harry was pure of heart and would only use it to do what he thought was right. Rowling made it clear that in certain circumstances it is important to go against authority as long as it involves doing the right thing. Otherwise, authority should be maintained and rules should be followed as they exist for a reason. 

Do Choices Cause Restrictions?

Do Choices Cause Restrictions?

Within the Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, there are 12 districts and a capital (excluding district 13). If one person is born in a specific district, they will stay in that district their whole lives. It is not common to switch or visit another district. What if Suzanne Collins created districts to resemble the states within the USA in the real world today, where people had the choice to switch interchangeably between the districts of their choosing? Because of the contrast between the rich and poor of the districts, there would be restrictions on the freedom of choice on where they are able to live.  

Most of the citizens would choose the richer districts as there would be a larger supply of food and resources, safer jobs, and a better life style. However, each district would only be able to hold a designated amount of people. As the districts fill up, more and more people will be forced to be put in the poorer districts against their choice, in order to fill up the districts. This is where the restrictions apply. How do we choose who gets put in the districts? Would there be an auction, a choosing ceremony like in the novel Divergent, or are individuals placed based on wealth? No matter what, not everyone will be able to be in the district they would want to be in. The entirety of the citizens choices would never be fulfilled.

 In addition, if someone wanted to be in a specific district, how would they know how to survive in that area? For example, District 12 struggles to provide food and a fanciful lifestyle for its citizens. In the book it is described as “District 12: Where you can starve to death in safety”. Because of the limited supply of food, a district 12 citizen may look to find a district that provides this demand for food and housing such as district 1, a richer district who produces luxury goods for the capital. However, the coal mining of district 12 doesn’t support the lifestyle of manufacturing luxury goods for the capital. If the citizen cannot find a salary that supports living in the area, it would be difficult to afford it. It would be equivalent to a farm owner from Indiana trying to move to New York City. It would be hard for the farmer to find a job in the city due to lack of experience, causing him to move back to Indiana due to not being able to afford the substantial financial burden. In Hunger Games, the farmer represents a citizen in the poorer districts where they wouldn’t be able to survive the wealth and be forced to trickle down the districts back to the district to which they came from.

Sensationalism in the Hunger Games

 As we are introduced to the world of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, the differences in our societies is seen greatly through a corrupted media. Through learning about the ritualistic sacrifice of the Capitols children, readers are also introduced to the deeply unsettling manner of their treatment by the world. The world we see in The Hunger Games is subject to a greatly sensationalized media system, broadcasting news coverage that both distracts and misleads manipulates viewers from the true nature of the Games. This is evidenced by the sponsor system, interviews, and the nature in which characters like Effie Trinket and Caesar Flickman present our protagonists.

The character of Effie is introduced to Katniss with the quote “I think it's one of the wonderful things about this opportunity, that even though you're here and even though it's just for a little while, you get to enjoy all of this”(63). This condescending attitude towards tributes is the heart and soul of the contemporary media system. It isn’t exactly hidden, as interviewers like Caesar Flickman affirm this attitude in public conversations with the ‘contestants’. This is exemplified by Caesar’s focus on Katniss’ dress, hair, and relationship with Peeta throughout all her conversations with the media, instead of the issue at hand.

Although Katniss and Peeta are irrefutably being sent to their deathbeds, the focus of the media is on their status as “star-crossed lovers” (73). This detail has been inundated on by the media, glorifying their ‘lovers tale’ without acknowledging the upcoming combat. This understated fantasy that the Capitol creates is seemingly impervious to criticism, as no other party successfully protests the treatment of tributes. This is another factor that bolsters the Capitols ability to distract its viewers, further worsening the problem.

The media has allowed  the games to even escalate to a point of political leveraging, as seen in the sponsor system. This pandering of tributes to the rich further buys into the ‘reality television’ aspect of the games, as viewers now have a separate factor to consider altogether. As if the speculation of interviews and grand parades were not enough distraction, the system of sponsors has parlayed the sensationalism into a betting game, further dehumazining the protagonists and tributes.